The rights a parent has to spend time with their child and raise him or her as well as the responsibility a parent has to protect and care for his child are collectively called “parental rights.” A parent is responsible for providing the basics like food, water, and shelter, but also immaterial necessities like education, affection, appropriate discipline, and medical care. Courts do have the authority to terminate parental rights, but this only happens if it is in the child’s best interest to end contact with a parent. This most often happens in cases of abuse or neglect. Parental rights are also terminated when a parent gives a child up for adoption. In situations where unmarried parents have a child together or married parents get divorced, the courts clarify parental rights and responsibilities through child custody orders.

Parental Rights When a Child is Conceived Through Rape

Studies approximate that between 17,000 and 32,000 pregnancies resulting from rape occur in the United States each year. Most would assume that if a person is found guilty of rape that they would not have parental rights to the child which was conceived; however, this is not the case across the country. The Maryland Senate just recently voted on this deeply important, but semi-controversial issue.

Sexual harassment and sexual violence have been present for long as humans have had societies, though the issues have not always been discussed publicly. Many people point to the allegations made by Anita Hill against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas in 1991 as the beginning of the public battle against sexual harassment. In recent months, the war has been reignited with great fervor as countless high-profile individuals have been accused of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other forms of sexual misbehavior.

Perhaps the most common response to each new allegation that comes out is a question: why did the victim wait so long to come forward? If the abuser’s actions were brought to light sooner, they could have been dealt with sooner. Coming forward with allegations of harassment, however, is often the most difficult thing a victim will ever have to do—especially for women who have been the victims of male abusers.

Support From an Unexpected Source

Nobody should be forced to endure sexual harassment or sexual assault without repercussions for the perpetrator. Yet every day, it seems, there are more and more stories of people—often women but not always—being victimized by coworkers, supervisors, and associates. Not even the most recognizable celebrities in the world are immune from such issues, as a recent case out of Colorado clearly demonstrates.

It all started in 2013 when world-famous pop star and entertainer Taylor Swift was at a meet and greet with a Denver radio station disk jockey. According to Swift, the 55-year-old DJ was posing with the singer for a photograph when he reached under her skirt and groped her. Swift was appalled by the assault and reported it to the radio station. The DJ was subsequently fired from his position. He denied that any sexual assault took place and claims that he was wrongfully terminated because of the incident. He then sued Swift and two other individuals in 2015. Taylor Swift brought a countersuit for a symbolic one dollar, and the case went to trial earlier this month.

Swift Testifies That She Was Groped